ABSTRACT
In 1986, Bednorz and Miiller reported a superconducting transition temperature greater than 30K in a multicomponent oxide compound, namely La2−xBax-CuO4−δ (1). The discovery of other layered copper oxide materials with superconducting transition temperatures, Tc, exceeding the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77K) soon followed. Today, numerous high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cuprate phases have been uncovered with transition temperatures as high as 135K. Many of these materials have been synthesized as epitaxial thin films. A fundamental understanding of both the superconducting properties, as well as the materials science of these complex oxide materials, is still emerging. Although much is known about the synthesis and properties of HTS films, there remain significant challenges in this area, particularly in producing thin-film materials suitable for HTS technologies. Potential applications involving HTS films include high-frequency electronics for radio-frequency (RF) microwave communications, superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for the detection of minute magnetic fields, and superconducting wires for energy-efficient delivery and use of electrical energy. This chapter provides an overview of the science and technology of HTS thin-film synthesis, focusing on the growth of epitaxial films.
